I missed this when it was announced last month, but the Right Rev Ian Paton will retire as Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane on 1 November this year. Details are on the website of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
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Fr Dean
21 days ago
I wonder if another English suffragan will be appointed?
The last time an English Suffragan Bishop was appointed to St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane was when Lumsden Barkway was translated in 1939 from the Suffragan See of Bedford. So a Precedent has been set for that possibility. Jonathan
Wasn’t an English suffragan appointed to Edinburgh in the early 2000s? Much longer ago an English diocesan became Bishop of St Andrews, but not by direct translation. His name was Wilkinson and he became Primus.
It has happened twice in Edinburgh in recent years 2002 Bishop Brian Smith translated from Tonbridge to Edinburgh and this year 2026 Bishop Dagmar Winter from Huntingdon to Edinburgh. Jonathan
It’s worth pointing out that Bishop Brian Smith grew up in Edinburgh and did his first degree at the University of Edinburgh. Bishop Dagmar studied at the University of Aberdeen. Thus, while they were English sufragans, they are not without knowledge and understanding of Scotland.
I think that distinction between appointment and election in the context of the Scottish Episcopal Church is very important as a Past Primus once told me in a phone conversation, the Scottish Episcopal Church are very strong on Democracy, which is one of the reasons why the do not appoint an Archbishop but the College of Bishops in Scotland elect a Primus, as the consider in Scotland in the Episcopal Church, having an Archbishop to be undemocratic, and they are also careful to guard against the Office of Primus become Archbishopised. Jonathan
Simon W
19 days ago
Two friends of ours served their curacies at Old St Paul’s with Ian as incumbent and expressed nothing but respect and affection for him as their ‘boss’ and wise mentor in priestly ministry. Wishing him a happy and fulfilling retirement.
I wonder if another English suffragan will be appointed?
surely a ministry at Old St Paul’s guarantees commitment over birth
Graham Leonard, then at Willesden, was nominated for St Andrews in 1970. He was not finally elected.
The last time an English Suffragan Bishop was appointed to St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane was when Lumsden Barkway was translated in 1939 from the Suffragan See of Bedford. So a Precedent has been set for that possibility. Jonathan
Wasn’t an English suffragan appointed to Edinburgh in the early 2000s? Much longer ago an English diocesan became Bishop of St Andrews, but not by direct translation. His name was Wilkinson and he became Primus.
No, they weren’t.
Brian Smith, then Bishop of Tonbridge, was *elected* to Edinburgh in 2001.
It has happened twice in Edinburgh in recent years 2002 Bishop Brian Smith translated from Tonbridge to Edinburgh and this year 2026 Bishop Dagmar Winter from Huntingdon to Edinburgh. Jonathan
Thank you.
It’s worth pointing out that Bishop Brian Smith grew up in Edinburgh and did his first degree at the University of Edinburgh. Bishop Dagmar studied at the University of Aberdeen. Thus, while they were English sufragans, they are not without knowledge and understanding of Scotland.
Dagmar was elected by a vote of the diocese
Former Bishop of Truro
Yes, exactly. I don’t want to say any more as I posted something about Wilkinson on TA three years ago.
SEC bishops are elected, not appointed.
I think that distinction between appointment and election in the context of the Scottish Episcopal Church is very important as a Past Primus once told me in a phone conversation, the Scottish Episcopal Church are very strong on Democracy, which is one of the reasons why the do not appoint an Archbishop but the College of Bishops in Scotland elect a Primus, as the consider in Scotland in the Episcopal Church, having an Archbishop to be undemocratic, and they are also careful to guard against the Office of Primus become Archbishopised. Jonathan
Two friends of ours served their curacies at Old St Paul’s with Ian as incumbent and expressed nothing but respect and affection for him as their ‘boss’ and wise mentor in priestly ministry. Wishing him a happy and fulfilling retirement.
I met him once there on a cold, wet and bleak Edinburgh evening and found him warm, charming and welcoming in our brief conversation.